Judge to Vernon Downs: Keep barns open

A judge today ordered Vernon Downs to keep its barns open and maintain winter training tracks for horses.

The track had stopped maintaining the tracks and had ordered all 300 horses out of the barns by Friday. That violates the horsemen's contract and puts the horses at risk, argued attorney Joe Faraldo, who represents the horse owners and trainers. He said the horses could suffer injuries if they are not allowed to train.

State Supreme Court Justice John Grow ordered the track to allow deliveries to the barns and to keep water and electricity in the barns. The order is in effect until a full hearing at 10 a.m. Friday in Grown's courtroom in Rome.